“Renegade Nell” is a brand new historical fantasy web series on Disney+ Hotstar. Written by Sally Wainwright, this is a period adventure story about Nell, a female highwayman with supernatural powers.
In 18th century England, “Renegade Nell” tells the story of Nell Jackson (Louisa Harland), a spirited and resourceful woman skilled in combat. She runs from home with Captain Jackson, however, returns when her husband dies. After returning home following a year of being presumed dead, Nell is seen to have acquired special powers that she uses to fight injustice. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, she becomes England’s most notorious outlaw, falsely accused of Lord Blancheford’s murder (Pip Torrens). Now, Nell and her sisters (Bo Bragason, Florence Keen) must flee and conceal their identities while figuring life out.
Nell’s Homecoming, Drama Ensues
In the beginning itself we are introduced to Nell, a courageous young woman with extraordinary powers who saves a group of civilians from robbers. Nell returns to Tottenham to her family, consisting of her father and two sisters, George and Roxy after a year of being presumed dead. Although reluctant and upset, her father gradually welcomes her back.
In a spirit of bravery, Nell beats up Thomas Blancheford, an entitled and reckless young man and the son of the magistrate Lord Blancheford, when they trouble Nell’s father’s tavern and teases her sister Roxy. The fairy-like mythical sprite named Billy Blind helps protect her by giving her supernatural strength and speed, but also warns her not to engage in unnecessary fights. She also makes an acquaintance along the way, a man named Charles Devereux, the the head of the robbers who was defeated in the beginning of the episode.
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Enraged with a sense of revenge and following the bad counsel of the Earl of Poynton, Thomas kills Nell’s father. Nell confronts the magistrate’s family and is scared to shoot Thomas with an unloaded gun. Thomas, however, taking the opportunity, kills his father, Lord Blancheford with his own gun and pins the murder on Nell. His sister aiding him with the lie made Nell leave her home and run away with her sisters.
What Happens To Nell And Her Family After They Flee The Village?
Along with her two sisters and Rasselas (who worked for Lord Blancheford’s estate), Nell lives in the forest when she encounters Charles Devereux again after robbing a carriage of wealthy people. Devereux proposes to team up and dress as a couple with their maid, cousin and footman and stay in an inn in a small town.
The Blancheford siblings hire Captain Jarrold to catch Nell. Thomas meets the Earl of Poynton and is reassured and validated of his evil actions. Thomas gets horrifying visions of his dead father. Poynton meets Thomas’ sister, Lady Wilmot and promises to help catch Nell with supernatural connections.
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Nell and Devereux are invited to play cards at Widdiecomb’s manor. The duo accept the invitation but Billy Blind keeps warning Nell when they are at the manor. Upon getting Nell’s location, Poynton goes to a secret chamber in his office and manifests a scary being on a horse (whose name is later revealed as Herne the Hunter) which he controls. That creature emerges from dirt and speedily goes to the Widdicomb Manor.
Does Poynton Catch Nell?
Poynton attacks Nell in Widdicomb Manor in the shape of Herne the Hunter and they engage in a vicious and engaging fight. However, Nell (with Billy Blind’s help) is successful in defeating him by slitting his throat and proceeds to run away. Devereux runs away while Nell, Rasselas and her sisters are chased and attacked by Blancheford’s men. George gets shot and Devereux is caught.
Rasselas takes the sisters deep into the forest and they end up at an abandoned plague village where they rest. Nell takes out the bullet from George’s wound. On the other hand, Devereux is stood in front of court and it takes a long time to just read out his offenses, he is ultimately kept in jail till trial. Pony is treated for his injuries.
The Queen and her court discuss Nell and the sightings of Herne the Hunter, which alarms the queen as sighting him means the death of a monarch.
After a conversation with Billy, Nell decides to go see a physician for George. Lady Wilmot goes to meet Poynton, it seems the pair have created a special understanding. Billy confesses to Nell that she is meant to do greater things.
Could Nell Save George’s Life?
Nell and Rasselas journey to High Wycombe to seek medical help for her sister George. To this end, she identifies herself as a Scottish woman and persuades Dr. Henry Tuplow to come back with her so that he can attend to George’s bullet wound.
Roxy takes care of George in the cottage who becomes delirious because of her fever. Wanting an answer badly, Roxy made a wish which led her into looking into a book on the shelf where she discovered an ointment recipe magically. Tuplow comes and checks out George’s bullet hole giving comforting words that the cream applied by Roxy is working somehow.
Preparing for surgery, Tuplow marvels at how creative Roxy was when making ointment from what she could find around. He then educates George about the operation while urging her not to be scared about it. Outside in the open air, Roxy tells Nell everything that occurs outside their door leading her to think that maybe she has magical powers—a thought which Nell agrees with. George’s operation goes well.
Devereaux gets in trouble with Lady Eularia due to his involvement with Nell. Even after trying to charm his way through, Devereux cannot avoid tough questions regarding his relationship with Nelly Jackson.
Poynton and Sofia (Lady Wilmot) get closer as he persuades her to throw over the queen with the Jacobites and he teaches her the dark arts. In an unfortunate turn of events, Mr. Tuplow’s brother dies right when Nell comes to see him, consequently having to flee the scene.
Does Devereux Escape From Prison?
Nell proceeds to go to her uncle Jack, tell him everything and leaves her sisters. She then goes on to rescue Devereux from prison. Sofia consistently gets better at the dark arts and channelizing supernatural powers. prepares a plan to entrap Nell with spells.
Nell grabs an opportunity and enters the prison cell pretending to be a doctor. She explains her plan to Devereux but he declines saying he has a better plan, that he’ll be represented by a great lawyer to prove that he’s not the robber Isambard Tulley. He also confesses that Lady Eularia is his betrothed. Lady Eularia comes in and figures out that the doctor is actually Nelly Jackson and tells the guards. Right after, a guard tricks Nell into a prison cell.
Nell is hacked with emotions when she sees the situation of the prison cell with girls spending years in the cell for petty reasons. She realizes the purpose of her power and beats up all the guards to free the prisoners.
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At the same time, Poynton and Sofia perform spells to stop Nell, however they fail.
In a plot twist, Mr. Japhia, a traveling actor, kidnaps George.
How Does Nell Save George From Japhia?
Japhia’s men kidnap a rich young woman named Polly Honeycombe (mistaking her as Nell’s sister Roxy) along with George. Upon hearing the news, Nell and Roxy leave for Uffington to save them.
Nell enters the farmhouse where her sister and Polly are kept. There she is an audience to a dramatic debacle of Japhia who tells her to drink poison hemlock or her sister dies. She distracts him with petty talk as Billy changes the cup. Japhia ends up drinking the poison, and with Roxy’s help they manage to get free.
Eularia on the other hand plans to publish a sensational piece of news on Nelly Jackson.
Rasselas overhears Poynton and Sofia saying how he framed the Queen’s head of guards and plans to take his place. Sofia gains even more dark power.
Is Nell Successful In Changing Her Reputation?
As newspapers scandalize Nell and call her “Devil Nell”, she is determined to clean her reputation. Nell and her sisters reunite with Rasselas as they go inside Lady Eularia’s press. They urge the newspaper to print about ‘s con Poynton spiracy to overthrow the Queen but they decline to do so without proof. Nell comes clean about her identity and proceeds to wait for Lady Eularia in the press.
On the other hand, Devereux’s trial proceeds as he comically explains his innocence to the jury. The prosecution frames him for treason as well. Lady Eularia leaves the court seeing the hopelessness of the case.
Nell and Lady Eularia meet and an argument ensues. At the same time, Sofia performs a ritual alone to find Nell. A crazy fightdown takes place when she possesses Eularia’s body to fight Nell. Surprisingly, George starts singing a song and breaks Sofia’s magic. Lady Eularia finally believes Nell and agrees to print the truth. However, they get news that the queen would be sent to Broadwater Hall under Poynton’s orders.
‘Renegade Nell Season 1’ Ending Explained: How Does Nell Stop Poynton?
Nell and her gang plan to capture the queen before she’s killed by Poynton. However, upon stopping her carriage, they find Devereux instead and are united. The Queen is shocked that Poynton is the traitor and is arrested and captured by him.
Sofia is horrified to know that her brother has been given a locket by Poynton that is making him evil and powerful; and impossible to get off. She confronts Poynton and he explains how he doesn’t have time to deal with Thomas when he has far more important things to deal with. She attacks Poynton but he proves to be too powerful for her, and ends up tying her with magic.
Nell, on the other hand, defeats Poynton’s men one by one. She gets to the queen but it turns out to be an illusion created by Poynton and is consequently captured. They agree on taking the fight outside. Devereux frees the real queen somewhere in the Manor.
Sofia manages to free herself and goes out as well. With his magic, Poynton turns day into night with his magic to gain advantage in the fight. A vicious battle is fought between the two with swords. Sofia aids Nell with her magic.
Nell tricks Poynton. She goes to the room where Thomas is dying, realizing she needs to save her. In an act of sacrifice, she tells Billy to enter Thomas, knowing full well she may never see him again.
Poynton enters and before he can kill Nell, Billy succeeds in destroying the spell and taking Poynton’s powers. Sofia grabs the opportunity and kills Poynton.
Nell tells Sofia and her brother to live a life on the run and in return Sofia tells her that she will not forget hinting that we might get a Season 2.
The ending is happy with Nell rejecting the role of the head of guards from the queen and instead opting to live a simple life running her father’s tavern. In the last scene, we see a blip of light which means that Billy Blinds is still with Nell!
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